More than 15K persons rescued from disaster affected areas, Chinook to transport heavy machinery to Kedarnath
Monday, 12 AUGUST 2024 | PNS | DEHRADUN
The first phase of the rescue operation in the Kedar valley has concluded. The authorities informed that 78 persons staying voluntarily in Kedarnath were taken by the Indian Air Force Mi-17 helicopter to Guptkashi on Sunday. These persons included shopkeepers, ascetics and horse-mule operators. With this, the Mi-17 has been sent back to its home base with no pilgrims left to come down from Kedarnath. The ration and other essential items for Kedarnath Dham were transported earlier by the Mi-17 and the State helicopter. Meanwhile, the IAF’s Chinook helicopter is still in the area to transport some heavy machines to Kedarnath. The heavy machines will be transported by the chopper as soon as the weather clears, after which this helicopter too will be sent back to its home base.
Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home minister Amit Shah for the prompt and effective assistance provided to Uttarakhand by the Centre for the rescue and relief operations in the disaster affected areas of the State. He said that the PM was so concerned about the safety of the pilgrims after the disaster that he took regular updates on the rescue and relief operations. Dhami also thanked the various agencies involved in the rescue and relief operations. He said that more than 15,000 persons were safely rescued from disaster affected areas as part of this operation. The CM too regularly monitored the rescue and relief operations. According to officials, most of the bridle paths damaged due to heavy rain and landslide on July 31 have been restored to a level where they are good to walk on. Out of the 29 routes damaged at various places, 25 have been restored for pedestrians while work is underway to restore the remaining routes.
